Boston, MA
The Boston Bruins Can’t Stop Winning—but No One Gets a Day Off
In a recreation towards the New York Islanders final month, a hockey puck deflected squarely into the face of Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron. He lumbered off the ice and into the locker room, blood pouring from his nostril. But minutes later, he was again on the bench. The next evening at Madison Sq. Backyard, he scored Boston’s second aim in a win over the New York Rangers.
“Something he can play by way of, or push to play by way of, he’ll,” teammate Brad Marchand mentioned. “He might simply stroll away from that and relaxation up for the following one.”
Had Bergeron performed another skilled sports activities, he may not have suited up for the following recreation, shiner and all. The season is lengthy and preventing by way of accidents generally backfires on groups with title aspirations.
However Bergeron performs hockey, a sport that stands alone in a sports activities panorama that more and more finds groups holding high athletes out of standard season contests—generally sacrificing wins in favor of preserving athletes’ our bodies for the lengthy haul of a playoff run.
Patrice Bergeron, No. 37, is helped off the ice after an damage towards the New York Islanders on Jan. 18.
Photograph:
Bruce Bennett/Getty Pictures
This idea of “load administration” gained traction in 2019 when the Toronto Raptors gained the NBA title with Kawhi Leonard regardless of holding him out of the lineup for 22 common season video games, over 1 / 4 of the slate, as he labored his manner again from leg accidents. That helped him put up monster performances in all of Toronto’s 24 playoff video games.
Professional sports activities are copycat enterprises, and so load administration unfold. It by no means actually caught on in hockey, nevertheless—and this season’s Boston Bruins are an excessive instance of the sport’s resistance to the idea.
This week, Boston grew to become the quickest crew in NHL historical past to achieve 80 standings factors. Their 39-7-5 file and 83 factors heading into this weekend’s All Star break places them seven factors forward of the following closest crew, the Carolina Hurricanes, and on tempo to shatter the NHL single-season wins file of 62, shared by the 1995-96 Detroit Crimson Wings and 2018-19 Tampa Bay Lightning.
With a mean age of 29 years and 39 days, the Bruins are the NHL’s fifth oldest crew, which suggests extra creaky knees and aching backs. Bergeron, a mainstay of Boston’s high line on the age of 37, can be a major candidate for taking some additional relaxation at times.
But strategically resting gamers isn’t one thing Boston coach Jim Montgomery is entertaining with three months left within the common season—although it’s laborious to think about a situation through which the Bruins fail to qualify for the playoffs.
“It’s a consideration later within the yr once we’re going again to backs,” he mentioned after a 3-1 win over the New York Rangers final month. “Patrice Bergeron has earned the suitable—with 1,200 video games he is aware of his physique higher than anyone else.”
“We requested him if he was able to go and he mentioned, ‘I’m 100% able to go.’”
Strategically resting gamers isn’t one thing Boston coach Jim Montgomery is entertaining.
Photograph:
Mary Schwalm/Related Press
Why are NHL groups so reluctant to relaxation gamers the way in which different sports activities do? Coaches have an obligation to subject the perfect crew potential, based on a bylaw within the NHL collective bargaining settlement. But that’s not the rationale why strategic relaxation by no means caught on in hockey—the league workplace seldom polices day by day lineups. Neither is the game’s prevailing “suck it up” mentality.
Hockey is solely a distinct recreation, with surprisingly completely different calls for on its athletes’ our bodies.
For starters, hockey gamers are within the recreation much less, no more, than athletes in another sports activities. Skaters come on for rotating shifts of about 45 seconds at a time. Depth is excessive, so a participant’s complete time on ice is low. Connor McDavid, whose 41 objectives at present lead the NHL, averages simply 22 minutes and 37 seconds per recreation out of a potential 60. Even probably the most sturdy defensemen, who have a tendency to have the ability to deal with longer shifts, aren’t on the ice for rather more: Colorado’s Cale Makar leads the league with simply over 27 minutes per recreation.
That’s a lot shorter than within the NBA, the place high gamers like Luka Doncic and Jayson Tatum common about 37 minutes per recreation, or roughly 78% of all potential minutes. This isn’t to say that hockey gamers get much less drained from contests through the 82-game common season grind, simply that they’ve fewer alternatives than their basketball-playing counterparts to affect the end result on a per-night foundation.
Goalies are the one place in hockey for which groups make use of gentle load administration, partly as a result of they commonly play near 60 minutes per recreation. This usually solely occurs on the finish of the common season, mentioned Tampa Bay Lightning head crew doctor Ira Guttentag.
Guttentag added that the mechanics of hockey and the character of accidents it produces contribute to athletes’ tendency to play damage.
“Hockey isn’t as hectic on the joints. Though hockey is a large collision sport, it’s a variety of gliding as a substitute of leaping and operating,” Guttentag mentioned. Because of this, there are fewer musculoskeletal accidents that require fast relaxation.
In 21 years of working with the Lightning, Guttentag has seen gamers skate by way of dislocated shoulders, damaged bones and toes fractured whereas blocking slap photographs touring in extra of 100 mph. Skating on a damaged foot isn’t as insane because it sounds, Guttentag mentioned, as a result of the inflexible materials of hockey footwear can act as a type of forged—as long as gamers can squeeze their swollen toes into their skates.
Eric McCarty, crew doctor for the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche, mentioned that he commonly consults with the teaching employees and athletic trainers about whether or not a participant might return to motion with out irreparably harming themselves following an damage. More often than not, besides in cases when the participant has suffered a concussion, getting again on the ice isn’t off the desk.
Boston Bruins goalie Linus Ullmark, left, and teammate goalie Jeremy Swayman have fun after a win.
Photograph:
Eric Bolte/USA TODAY Sports activities
Resting a skater could make their legs brisker come the postseason, however it could additionally come on the detriment of crew chemistry. Except for discovering a goalie, crucial personnel resolution in hockey is assembling traces. Defensemen work in pairs, forwards work in trios—a middle flanked by left and proper wings. How these threesomes work together determines the standard and amount of goal-scoring alternatives a crew can create.
“We wish to play video games and be in these conditions collectively,” Bruins defenseman Connor Clifton mentioned.
It isn’t unusual for coaches to combine up these groupings all through the season, however as soon as a line is clicking there may be little cause to mess with it. Boston has famously had the “Perfection Line,” made up of Bergeron, David Pastrnak and Marchand, for the higher a part of the final decade. This yr, Montgomery has shuffled the lineup to create the “Czech Line,” the place Patrnak joins countrymen David Krejci and Pavel Zacha.
“The communication is clearly manner simpler,” Pastrnak mentioned of talking his native tongue along with his linemates. “Plus, the opposite crew doesn’t perceive.”
Write to Laine Higgins at laine.higgins@wsj.com
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As we reckon with summer’s departure, there are a variety of fun-filled events to welcome the first signs of fall. Visit two “carnivals,” each with its own twist: huzzah and hurrah with medieval jest at the Brighton Bazaar’s Knight Carnival or tinker and test interactive exhibits at the Cambridge Science Carnival. Also, Somerville celebrates its prized, local invention, Marshmallow Fluff, with the 20th annual Fluff Festival, complete with sticky games and extra sugary challenges.
Here are six no-cost activities and events for the week of Sept. 15-21, as well as two ways to save on the arts this season.
BOOK LOVERS UNITE If a book club had a silent disco equivalent, it might be the Boston Figurative Art Center’s BYOBook event. Unlike a traditional book club, everyone brings whatever book they’re currently reading to a guided discussion with fellow readers from 7-7:30 p.m. After, attendees are welcomed to read as they please on the studio’s couches or lounge area. Snacks and beverages from the studio will be available. Sept. 17, 7-9 p.m. Boston Figurative Art Center, 285 Washington St., Somerville. bostonfac.com
KNIGHT MARKET The Brighton Bazaar, in collaboration with roving merchant curators Medieval Merriment, will transform into the first-ever Knight Carnival for a night of Middle Ages-themed mischief. Immerse yourself in a live sword fight between armored knights from local melee club North Horde, a creature puppet show, fantasy-inspired musicians, a site-wide scavenger hunt, and a costume contest for attendees dressed in their Ren Faire best. If you have gold in your inventory to spend, vendors will be selling trinkets all night. Sept. 18, 5-10 p.m. Charles River Speedway, 525 Western Ave., Brighton. facebook.com/thebrightonbazaar
AUTUMN LEAVES The Boston Landing Fall Crawl celebrates the arrival of the season with a reptile show with snakes and lizards, pony rides, and pumpkin decorating. DJ Dukes will play a live set from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., and country singer Louis Bello will pick up from 2-4 p.m. Meanwhile, from noon-2 p.m., attendees can join a line dancing lesson. Churros are on the house (while supplies last), and barbecue eats and other Southern staples will be available for purchase. Sept. 20, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Boston Landing, 92 Guest St. bostonlanding.co
MARSHMALLOW MADNESS Don’t expect to come out of this one clean: Somerville, the birthplace of Marshmallow Fluff, celebrates this sticky-sweet legacy with the 20th annual Fluff Festival. In addition to live music and entertainment, the event will host unique games for prizes, including Fluff jousting, where participants use pool noodles with Fluff to knock others off a balance beam, and a Fluff hair-styling contest, where Fluff and Teddy peanut butter are provided for contestants to style the best ’do. .Attendees who arrive by cycle can access two free bike valets — one in front of Gracie’s Ice Cream and another by the intersection of Somerville Avenue and School Street. The fest is free to attend, but marshmallow-y foods and drinks will be available for purchase. Sept. 20, 2-6 p.m. 366 Somerville Ave., Somerville. flufffestival.com
UP, UP, AND AWAY The City of Quincy celebrates its 400th birthday with a Hot Air Balloon and Laser Light Show at Merrymount Park. On Pageant Field, attendees can play lawn games or journey 60 feet in the air in tethered hot air balloons. Meanwhile, roving costumed performers and food trucks can be found on Adams Field. At 9 p.m., the laser show begins, projecting streams and beams onto the overhead balloons and trees. Sept. 20, 4-10 p.m. Merrymount Park, Quincy. Reserve free balloon ride vouchers on the event’s website. quincy400.com
SCIENTIFIC WONDERS More than 150 booths showcasing STEAM’s finest (and most fun) will occupy the 17th annual Cambridge Science Carnival. Visit a robot petting zoo — featuring robots of the underwater, basketball, and gummy bear varieties — check out hands-on booths to make stomp rockets, sugar glass, or bath bombs. Members of the MIT Physics Department will perform demonstrations at 1 and 3:15 p.m., and the hosts of the “Tumble Science” children’s podcast will perform interactive songs at 1:45 p.m. Sept. 21, noon-4 p.m. Kendall/MIT Open Space, 292 Main St., Cambridge. cambridgesciencecarnival.org
Deals and Steals
FINE FOR FIVE Starting Sept. 18, the Museum of Fine Arts kicks off its $5 Third Thursdays programming. On the third Thursday of each month, from 5-10 p.m., general admission is pay-as-you-wish with a $5 minimum. A crisp Lincoln grants access to the main galleries, as well as special after dark programming exclusive to each event — this month is Latinx Heritage Night featuring drop-in art sessions to make Puerto Rican beaded bracelets and Ex-Votos paintings, live sets by the Rafa Moreno Band and DJ Montro, and special spotlight talks and guided tours. mfa.org
SYMPHONY SEASON PASS Full-time Boston students with a valid college ID can take study breaks with an (award-winning) symphony when they purchase a $20 H+H Masterpass. The exclusive pass can be redeemed to access up to eight Handel and Haydn Society performances through the 2025-26 season. (Some exclusions apply.) handelandhaydn.org/concerts-tickets/masterpass
Check individual event websites for the most up-to-date information.
Send info on free events and special offers at least 10 days in advance to ryan.yau@globe.com.
Ryan Yau can be reached at ryan.yau@globe.com.
Walker Buehler’s Red Sox tenure came to an unceremonious end on August 29 when he was released to clear a roster spot for top prospect Payton Tolle to make his major league debut. His Phillies tenure, however, got off to a pretty good start Friday night.
Buehler, who signed a minor league deal with Philadelphia within a couple days of Boston cutting him, got the start at Citizens Bank Park against the Royals and delivered, holding Kansas City to one run on five hits while striking out three batters and walking just one in five innings. Philadelphia, won, 8-2, and Buehler got the win, marking his first such result since August 8, when he turned in one of his best performances in a Red Sox uniform and tossed six shutout innings in San Diego.
For Buehler, who owned a 5.45 ERA in 112 ⅓ innings for Boston, it was the third outing since July 1 in which he didn’t issue multiple walks. In 23 games (22 starts) for Boston, he issued free passes at a rate of 4.4 per nine innings. He also allowed 22 home runs.
The Phillies added Buehler to the mix in an effort to give their top starters — Cristopher Sánchez, Ranger Suárez, Jesús Luzardo and Aaron Nola — some extra chances to rest down the stretch. For now, he’s slotting into Philadelphia’s rotation as a sixth option, but he could serve a bullpen role come October if he’s pitching well and manager Rob Thomson wants to try to tap into the playoff magic Buehler has provided throughout his career. The 31-year-old, who recorded the final out of the World Series last fall at Yankee Stadium, has a career 3.04 postseason ERA in 19 appearances and has pitched three times in the World Series.
“He fits right into that mold of being a Philadelphia baseball player,” Buehler’s new teammate, Bryce Harper said, according to The Athletic’s Matt Gelb. “Just a lot of fun to be around him. Obviously, he’s pitched in big moments, deep into the postseason. So getting a guy like that in our clubhouse is huge for us. And he went out there and did a great job tonight.”
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